Rumor: The Splash Mountain refurbishment may be more than just retheming

Splash Mountain could be totally different when it reopens as the Princess and the Frog attraction.

Retheme of Splash Mountain

Back in June of 2020, Disney announced that a major reimagining of Splash Mountain would happen. This attraction, based on the controversial 1946 film “Song Of the South,” has been a fan favorite since it debuted in 1989.

The attraction will begin where the film leaves off; with the final kiss.  We’ll join Princess Tiana and her trumpet playing alligator friend Louis “on a musical adventure.”

Disney recently shared that this process will take some time, but they are making great progress on music, characters, and stories. You can read that interview HERE.

They also shared some new artwork for the attraction! In the concept art, you can see Tiana, Naveen, and Louis in their boats traveling along the bayou. It definitely looks like this will be an easy transition with what is currently Splash Mountain with the various scenes and drops.

All we know so far is that Disney plans to open the attraction in 2024, but they will share more in the coming weeks.

More than just a retheme?

While Disney remains tight-lipped about the attraction, Kenny the Pirate sources indicate that the refurbishment may involve a lot more than just retheming.

There is discussion that Imagineers will enclose the entire queue including the portion that is currently outside. It would cover the entire area from the main entrance over to the gift shop. It’s possible the loading area could also be enclosed as well.

If you think about Splash Mountain right now in its current state, a lot of the queue is out in the open courtyard area. You go inside for the second part of the queue, but then the loading area is open air again.

This will indeed be a huge project. The show building will likely be completely gutted and redone with only the actual ride portions remaining. We shall see what happens in the next couple years!

This would give a whole new feel to the queue and would be a welcome respite from the hot Florida heat. However, with any other rumor we share, consider this piece of information unconfirmed until Disney confirms.

Would you like to see an enclosed queue for the new attraction? Let us know in the comments below and on Facebook.